Brita Ultramax 18-Cup Dispenser: Best for Medium Households
The Brita Ultramax 18-cup (UBB18) is the entry point in the Brita dispenser family. The tap-style spigot on the front panel allows filling glasses without lifting or tilting the unit -- an advantage over pitcher dispensers. The Ultramax uses the Brita Standard filter (OB03), which is certified under NSF/ANSI Standard 42 to reduce chlorine taste and odor. Each Standard filter is rated for 40 gallons (approximately 2 months for a 2-person household). The reservoir separates into the upper pour-in tank and lower filtered storage tank, both BPA-free plastic.
Brita Ultramax 27-Cup Dispenser: Best for Large Households
The Brita Ultramax 27-cup (UBB27) expands the same Ultramax platform to 27-cup filtered storage capacity -- enough for a family of 4-6 to draw filtered water throughout the day without refilling. The 27-cup unit uses the same OB03 Standard filter or the Brita Longlast filter (OB06), which extends filter life to 120 gallons (approximately 6 months). Longlast filters are NSF 42 certified for chlorine reduction and NSF 53 certified for lead reduction -- an important distinction if your home has pre-1986 copper plumbing with lead solder joints.
Brita Stream 10-Cup Pitcher: Filter-As-You-Pour Technology
The Brita Stream (RPF-100) eliminates the waiting period inherent in standard gravity-filter pitchers. The Stream filter (RF-100) sits in the pour spout and filters water as it flows out of the pitcher -- no pre-fill wait. Trade-off: the Stream filter is not NSF 53 certified for lead, making it suitable for municipally treated water with no lead concern but not appropriate for older homes with lead plumbing. Stream filters are rated for 40 gallons, same as the Standard filter.
Brita Hub Tap System: Under-Counter Filtered Water Access
Brita Hub is a separate product category: an under-sink filtration system that delivers filtered water through a dedicated faucet or through an adapter on an existing faucet. The Hub system uses the Brita BBSF (faucet filter) certified under NSF 42 and NSF 53. Unlike the gravity dispensers, the Hub requires a faucet connection and does not use the Standard or Longlast filter cartridges -- the cartridge for the Hub tap is replaced separately.